Movies Face Uncertain Future After Heath Ledger's Death

Movies Face Uncertain Future After Heath Ledger's Death

Heath Ledger's sudden, shocking death yesterday has left several of his current projects up in the air. The biggest among them is this Summer's The Dark Knight, but Ledger was also shooting a film with director Terry Gilliam and was preparing for his directorial debut. Here's some of the latest news:

The Dark Knight is still on track for its July 18 release as of Tuesday. That film's studio, Warner Bros., issued a statement saying: "The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person.” Variety is reporting that the status of the film's marketing campaign is unclear, as it's built around sinister photos and appearances by The Joker.

Production on what was supposed to be Ledger's next film after The Dark Knight, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, was reportedly shut down on Tuesday. The movie had just completed shooting in London and relocated to Vancouver for the next leg of production. It's unclear what will happen to the film now, but Ledger — who was the biggest star in the cast, which also includes Tom Waits and Christopher Plummer — had been considered key to its financing. That film's producers have not issued a statement.

Well there is the rumor about possibly saving the film:
DIRECTOR Terry Gilliam hopes Johnny Depp will step into Heath Ledger's role and allow him to finish the movie that will go down in history as the Aussie hunk's last.
Ledger was less than two months from finishing Gilliam's fantasy film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
And the acclaimed director reportedly now wants Depp to shoot the remaining scenes.
A studio insider told Britain's The Sun newspaper: “There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in.
“It’s a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie so Heath’s character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment.
“Johnny’s not working at the moment so everyone is praying he will do it.”

Dark Knight looks amazing, but I was just thinking last weekend how much more excited I was about The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. I hope it's somehow able to get made sometime, but I won't be surprised if it never gets off the ground again. Terry Gilliam really has the worst luck.
God, it's all just so tragic.

I have a feeling that Heath will be remembered among the likes of James Dean and River Phoenix--as talented and accomplished young actors who left us just as they were reaching their prime. But it still feels so strange that Heath is truly gone....

It will be like a little like The Crow. The previews are so good but were already disturbing. So sad. But poor Terry Gilliam too, in a strange way, he has such a checkered track record with production.

I agree with em1282 - I think had he lived longer, he would have had so many amazing roles. Perhaps one of the saddest things is that unlike many actors/actresses currently in Hollywood who aren't as famous for their acting as they are for their extravagant lifestyles, Heath was one of the few who were truly talented and passionate about his work - and everyone could tell.

So weird. They were shooting the movie right by my building, and every day I'd walk past the trailers and hope to catch a glimpse of him in his makeup (or without). And this is me being selfish, but I'm sure he would have given so many awesome performances had he lived longer. :(